When i try to get updates or run the package manager, in Linux Mint 4.0 main edition, it gives me the error message saying that i have to run 'dpkg --configure -a' I have had this problem before and got it working easily. This time when i run it, it doesn't finish. i have let it run for over an hour, last time i did that it took only a couple of minutes. Is there another way of fixing this problem?

sorry if this post is difficult to understand, and thanks for taking the time to read it.